NECESSITY,
FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 194A.050(1) requires the secretary of the Cabinet
for Health and Family Services to promulgate administrative regulations
necessary to implement programs mandated by federal law or to qualify for the
receipt of federal funds and necessary to cooperate with other state and federal
agencies for the proper administration of the cabinet and its programs. 7
U.S.C. 2011 to 2029 and 7 C.F.R. 271.4 authorize the cabinet to administer a
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and prescribes the manner in
which the program shall be implemented. 7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(2)(B) requires the
cabinet to develop a uniform application process. KRS 116.048(1) designates the
cabinet as a voter registration agency in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 1973gg-5.
This administrative regulation establishes the application and the voter
registration processes used by the cabinet in the administration of the SNAP.

Section
1. Right to Apply or Reapply. (1) An individual shall have the right to apply
or reapply for SNAP benefits on the same day that the household first contacts
the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) office in person during
office hours.

(2)
The cabinet shall make the application process readily accessible to a
household.

(3)
In accordance with the procedures described in 920 KAR 1:070, interpreter
services shall be provided for a person who is:

(a)
Deaf; or

(b)
Hard of hearing.

(4)
In accordance with 42 U.S.C. 2000d and Presidential EO 13166, interpreter
services shall be provided for a person who is Limited English Proficient.

(5)
An application shall be considered filed if:

(a)
A FS-1, Application for SNAP, containing the name, address, and signature of
the applicant is received by a DCBS office; or

(b)
Application for benefits and another public assistance program is made in
accordance with 921 KAR 2:040 and Section 6 of this administrative regulation.

(6)
An application shall be processed after the:

(a)
Applicant or representative is interviewed;

(b)
Required information and verification for the application is provided to the
DCBS office; and

(c)
Application and related documents are received by the DCBS office, as specified
in Section 3(1) of this administrative regulation.

Section
2. Who May Sign an Application. An application for SNAP shall be signed by:

(1)
An adult or emancipated child who is a responsible member of the household; or

(2)
The household's authorized representative.

Section
3. Where an Application is Filed. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of
this section, an application shall be filed in any DCBS office.

(2)
A concurrent application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and SNAP shall
be filed in the service area office of the Social Security Administration.

Section
4. Prompt Action on an Application. The cabinet shall provide an eligible
household that completes the initial SNAP application process an opportunity to
participate as soon as possible. The cabinet shall not provide an opportunity
to participate later than:

(1)
Thirty (30) days after the application is filed for a household ineligible for
expedited services; or

(2)
The fifth calendar day following the date an application is filed for a
household eligible for expedited services.

Section
5. Expedited Service. The cabinet shall provide expedited services to a
household that is eligible in accordance with 7 C.F.R. 273.2(i).

Section
6. Public Assistance Application Process. (1) A household in which every member
is applying for Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP) shall be
allowed to simultaneously apply for SNAP benefits. A single interview shall be
conducted for both programs.

(2)
Time standards specified in Section 4 of this administrative regulation shall not
apply to a public assistance application. A public assistance application shall
be governed by the time standards specified in 921 KAR 2:035, Section 3.

(3)
A household in which every member receives, or is authorized to receive, SSI
shall be considered categorically eligible unless:

(a)
The entire household is institutionalized;

(b)
A household member is ineligible due to a drug-related felony conviction;

(c)
A household member is disqualified due to an intentional program violation
specified in 921 KAR 3:010; or

(d)
The head of the household is disqualified for failure to comply with the work
requirements specified in 921 KAR 3:042.

(4)
A household in which any member receives, or is authorized to receive cash,
in-kind, or other benefits funded under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Block Grant (TANF) shall be considered categorically eligible unless:

(a)
The entire household is institutionalized;

(b)
A household member is ineligible due to a drug-related felony conviction;

(c)
A household member is disqualified due to an intentional program violation
specified in 921 KAR 3:010; or

(d)
The head of household is disqualified for failure to comply with the work
requirements specified in 921 KAR 3:042.

(5)
If verified by the program or service conferring categorical eligibility
status, a categorically eligible household shall not be required to verify the
following eligibility factors:

(a)
Resources;

(b)
Gross and net income;

(c)
Social Security number;

(d)
Sponsored alien information; and

(e)
Residency.

Section
7. Joint SSI and SNAP Application Process. A household in which every member is
an applicant or recipient of SSI shall be allowed to simultaneously apply for
both SSI and SNAP as specified in Section 3(2) of this administrative regulation.

Section
8. Voter Registration. (1) In accordance with KRS 116.048 and 42 U.S.C.
1973gg-5, a SNAP applicant or recipient shall be provided the opportunity to
complete an application to register to vote or update current voter
registration if the applicant or recipient is:

(a)
Age eighteen (18) or over; and

(b)
Not registered to vote or not registered to vote at his current address.